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Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1S84. by 

The A. M DOLPH CO. 

in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 






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PRACTICAL HINTS 

ON CONDUCTING 

A Steam Laundry. 



THE LAUNDRY BUSINESS. 

While there are few branches of industry that yield a greater 
profit for the capital invested than the Laundry business, or that 
can hold its trade more securely, success in this line is only achieved 
by the same energy system and intelligence that is required in 
most any other business. This fact is substantiated by the experi- 
ence -of all successful Laundrymen. 

With the perfection of Laundry Machinery and its appli- 
cation to nearly every step in the process of Laundering, the 
necessity of a long and practical experience is lessened, and a 
smart, energetic man with a small capital, is not long in building 
up a good business, and at the same time gaining all the necessary 
experience. To facilitate and insure both of these results, we 
publish this little treatise on the process of Laundering. 

Our further aim will be to secure for our machinery proper 
operation and handling, for the purpose for which it is intended, — 
without which its great excellence and efficiency will not be de- 
monstrated or obtained. Probably no two Laundr) men agree in 
all the details, as to the best method; but each has his own pecu- 
liar way, which, under his management produces the best results. 
In the main however, the process is the same and we give this, 
not as the only ivay, but as one way which has proved very 
successful, and which can be, amplified, abridged or changed to 
suit the case. /\%V* c oPV! | i!GHT. *4 



THE LAUNDRY OFFICE. 

The office should be easy of access and large enough to 
comfortably accommodate your business. Above all things it 
should be kept clean and tidy. If you want your business to 
be respected, keep respectable in appearance at least that portion 
of your premises, with which your customers must come in con- 
tact; and an attractive or handsomely fitted-up office is as good 
an advertisement as you can have. It is a compliment to your 
customers, who will also appreciate respectful and prompt atten- 
tion from a neat and pleasant clerk. 

When goods are received over the counter they should 
be wrapped up and put out of the way; as the sight of soiled 
linen is not attractive to anyone. Allow no loafing around the 
office. Avoid disputes with your customers, and if quality of 
work, no matter how good, does not suit customers, it is better 
to do it over cheerfully without charge, if at all within the bounds 
of reason. 

It is well to have the shelving in your office proportioned 
for the work; wide shelves for shirts and other large packages, 
and narrower ones for collar and cuff packages. Keep the shelves 
well dusted and packages neatly arranged and in alphabetical or- 
der. Arrange to have the cash drawer so as to be out of reach 
from the outside, and to allow clerk while making change to face 
the customer and front of office. Have regular hours for your office 
to be open and keep to them punctually. Always have plenty of 
change handy and make exact change. It is not well to encour- 
age a looseness in this respect. 

BOOKS AND ACCOUNTS. 

Books peculiar to the Laundry business and necessary to 

it are few. The simplest form is the best ; at the same time a 

good system will enable you to keep the run of your business, 

avoid or detect errors, &c. • Some laundries use the tedious method 



of copying lists entire, but the following system will answer every 
purpose and be much easier. For a Record Book procure an ordi- 
nary two column Journal-ruled book, rather wide and of good stock, 
in which to make a record of each package of work done. An or- 
dinary Cash Book, Ledger and Time Book complete the set. 

We will now follow a day's lists all through. The mark 
to go on goods is written in blank space on list for that purpose 
and each article marked with that mark in indelible ink. It is 
well, when there is work enough, to divide it in lots of con- 
venient size to handle in the assorting room. Say for moderate 
size Laundries at least three lots per day — ist lot to be ready for 
packing at 1 1 A. M., 2nd lot, entirely of collars and cuffs ready 
to pack at 2 or 3 P. M., and be out of the way of 3rd lot, 
which should be done at 4.30 or 5 P. M., when the hands can 
commence on the next day's 1 1 A. M. lot. Once get started 
this way and you can keep ahead of your work, have it done 
on time and avoid night work. The lists for each lot are kept 
separate until they go to the desk, where a blue pencil can be 
used to mark a large C. on each 2nd or collar and cuff' lot list 
and an X on 3rd lot. They may now be mixed and assorted 
alphabetically. Then carry out the prices, and foot up the 
amount, and also the number of pieces, (counting a pair of cuffs 
or of socks one piece). Write the name on the margin at the 
bottom, also the amount in dollars and cents. Then enter them 
in the Record Book in alphabetical order giving name, mark, 
number of pieces and amount in dollars and cents. Now mark 
on the lower margin of list the .number of page in Record Book, 
that it is entered on, and then assort them back again into lots 
by the blue pencil mark and send them to the packing table for 
the goods. 

Lists can be made out in the evening and entered next 
day before 11 A. M., when ist lot is needed. Open only the 
lot of lists needed for that lot of goods which you are packing. 



When the bundle is tied up, double the list to keep from tear- 
ing, and tuck it under the cord on the end of the package, so 
that the name can be easily read. Deposit the bundles on the 
shelf in alphabetical order. When a customer comes for his 
package it is easily found, the check or coupon on the lower 
end torn oft' and the list handed to the customer. The coupons 
are placed in the drawer with the money and at a convenient 
time they are taken out and entered on the Cash Book. 

If a list be lost before goods are tied up, or if a dispute 
arises, you have in your Record Book the number of pieces and 
the amount, from which in most cases you can arrive at the 
exact articles which would make the list. 

Drivers should be required to bring back the coupons for 
all C. O. D. packages. 

WASH LISTS. 

In most laundries nine-tenths of the washing is for gentle- 
men; therefore it is better to use a wash list with only gentle- 
men's articles, bed-linen and towels named thereon. These lists 
come cheap and are more convenient to customers in finding the 
name of the article. Indeed, where a large business is done in 
collars and cuffs, a small list for these alone is advisable A full 
list for Ladies and Family wear can be kept on hand and used 
as required. It is well to have your special rules printed on the 
list, but have as few as possible. A margin at the bottom will 
serve for a cash ticket or coupon. We give on page 6 a very 
desirable form of gentlemen's list with the average ruling prices. 
It is well to have different colored lists, easily distinguished by 
gas or lamp light, for different branch offices or for special or 
short time work, as its color will attract attention among the plain 
lists and prevent its being neglected or mislaid. 

If checks are given out, have the numbers entered on 
Record Book and insist on their return each time before giving 



up package, or if lost take a receipt for the goods. A conveni- 
ent form for the receipt is here given : 

Received the package due on check No. 

[SIGNED, 



-^L-^JL-^. $~jzXz£.. 



"WRAPPING PAPER. 
Use good wrapping paper, strong and large enough for 
the package, which should be securely tied up. Many paper 
houses now carry a stock of paper, cut to recognized standard 
Laundry sizes, among which are 24x24, 24x27, 27x32, 27x36. For 
convenience in packing or wrapping collars, etc., a form or ring 
is made of strips of white pulp board or straw board, about five 
inches wide and fourteen to twenty long, into which the collars, 
etc., are placed, thus being protected from crushing and easily 
handled in wrapping. 

DRIVERS. 

It is a bad plan to hire a driver who "has a trade." It 
you own your Laundry, also own your trade and keep a strict 
watch over your wagon work. The less option you give your 
driver and the more direct connection you keep between the 
office and the customer the better. 

Let your driver understand that he is to be polite and 
attentive to customers, because you require it of him, but that 
you do not want his influence to secure trade. Better have a 
driver without influence, and let your good work and your own 
influence build up your trade. 

5 



[NAME AND LOCATION OF LAUNDRY.] 



Cincinnati, <J/*^JL. ££ ; /cfcf £.. 
Mark jS <g 6 



7n. 



X~ 0^^t£, 



To he done yrl^^^.*^*^, ^-L^Ji^t. 

(7 / 

jZJUL 



.4 Shirts, day? 12^ and 15c. 

. 1 Shirts, night 10c. 

.2 Shirts, under 10c. 

6 Collars 30c. per doz. 

.4 Cuffs per pair, 5c. 

.2 Drawers 10c. 

.4 Socks 5c. 

.8 Handkerchiefs 3c. 

. . Coats 2 5 t° 5 oc - 

. . Pants. 25 to 50c. 

. . Vests 20 to 25c. 

. 5 Towels 5 to 20c. 

.2 Sheets 10c. 





50 




10 
20 




15 

...20 

20 

20 

.. 24 








..25 




. . 20 



38 Pieces. 



$2 24 



POSITIVELY no work will be delivered until the bill has been paid at the office. 
NO CLAIMS allowed unless made within two days, and accompanied by our 
original list. 



~-Q.^JL~ 0-^-LJ-JLr 0a.a<^. 



336, 

LPage of Record. 



2 

>LSecond Month, Fourth Week.] 

6 



-4 



THE LAUNDRY BUILDING. 

Let us now turn to the Laundry proper. In selecting 
the premises try to get as much light as possible and freedom 
from dust and dirt. A plain room 16x40 or larger, with ceiling 
from 10 to 14 feet high and a good floor, is the cheapest to fur- 
nish and the best for all purposes. Plenty of room on two floors 
will allow a good arrangement. Have boiler and engine larger than 
you expect to use. You may have need of surplus power or steam. 
Do not have your shafting and hangers too heavy, but put in enough 
hangers to allow your shaft to run true. Have a hot water tank 
and run hot and cold water to washing machines. A little 
extra expense on waste pipes in the start, will insure you a dry 
floor and clean wash room. 

Have your machinery properly set up and adjusted and 
do not be premature in advertising to start. Keep your machin- 
ery well oiled and clean. It is well to take machines apart and 
clean them as often as opportunity offers, otherwise the oil will 
gum and oil holes fill up, apd the machine need repair before 
you suspect it. 

Give the marker a separate and quiet place, that mistakes 
may not occur through interruption. 

Printed Instructions will accompany each machine, which 
you will observe in setting it up. 

"WASHING BY MACHINERY. 

USE THE DOLPH WASHER AS FOLLOWS: 

Assort your work so as to wa«h your less soiled articles 
by themselves, as they require less time than the soiled articles, 
and, if possible, make up your loads to wash each kind of goods 
by themselves ; shirts in one load, collars and culls in another, 
and so on. Have the goods unrolled and unbuttoned, and as 
loose as possible. 



With the hot and cold water supply put into the ma- 
chine warm water about seven or eight inches deep in the 
inside cylinder, and put in your load of goods. Start up the 
machine and put in soap. This should be dissolved — say of the 
consistency of jelly, and is better if free from rosin, and rather 
sharp. Excelsior Soap Chips give the best satisfaction. Do 
not use too )>iuch soap. Put in enough at first to make 
a barely perceptible suds, and when this disappears, add 
more soap and heat up the water, (by means of the steam pipe 
at the bottom) but do not have it boiling hot. Wash the goods 
in the first water from fifteen to thirty-five minutes. Stop the ma- 
chine, draw off* the water and add the same amount of boiling 
hot water; put in soap and start the machine. This second 
wash may have a good suds, but at no time foaming out of the 
machine, as this makes the water so light it will not wash. 
Wash from fifteen to thirty minutes in this water, giving five 
minutes boil at last. Take the Clothes from this water, which 
you can cool down until warm onjy, and use as the first water 
for next load. 

BLEACHING. 

When the goods are taken from the machine, pick out 
any that have stains or streaks remaining in them for re-wash- 
ing in the machine or by hand. Allow no colored goods to go 
to the bleach, but when white goods are sufficiently washed, 
rinse them thoroughly in several waters to take out all the soap. 
The best work is obtained by wringing in a Doeph Centrifugal 
Wringer after washing, rinsing, etc. Soap or bleach left in 
goods will turn them yellow. 

Immerse the clothes in the Bleach Bath (see directions 
for making same) and allow them to remain from fifteen to 
thirty minutes according to the strength of bleach. Better commence 
with it weak until you have experience. Rinse again and place 



in the sour, if you use it, (see directions for "Sour"). After 
rinsing again thoroughly, the goods are ready for the hlue 
water or dipping starch, where they will receive the desired 
color. 

BLUING. 

The pi - ocess of bluing varies somewhat with kinds of 
blue used, satisfaction being gained only through experience, as 
the subject is too broad for explicit instructions. 

STARCHING. 

Shirts should have the neck-bands, bosoms and cuffs 
dipped in hot liquid starch and wrung out. A rubbing starch 
is then used, (when cold, about the consistency of jelly.) and 
rubbed into the parts previously dipped, and the wrinkles re- 
moved. They are then ready for the Dry Room. Collars and 
cuffs being well wrung out from the last rinse, are then placed 
in a Dolph Cylinder Starcher, which is operated as per printed 
instructions for same. Collars and cuffs are starched by hand 
same as shirts. Shirts and collars and cuffs should be dried 
"bone" dry before dampening. 

DAMPENING. 

For hand ironing, shirts may be dampened by sprinkling 
and rolled up same as other goods. 

To dampen shirts for ironing on Dolph's Combined Shirt and 
Collar Ironer see directions for using same. To dampen collars and 
cuffs take wet sheets and wring out as dry as can be done by hand. 
Spread the sheet on the dampening table and lay on collars and cuffs 
uniformly in rows, two together (that is, one on the other), 
make one roll of the sheet and lay on another row of collars. 
roll again and so continue until the sheet is full. Sheets one 



and a half yards wide are the handiest. Double your roll to- 
gether and put aside and repeat with next sheet. Collars and 
cuffs should remain in the sheets from twenty minutes to an 
hour according to the dampness of the sheets. They may then 
be taken out, piled right side up and put in a press or have a 
weight laid on them. In this latter case it is well to pile them 
in boxes about three-fourths full, leaving room for the weight. 
After laying in press a few hours, or over night, they will be 
in condition to iron. (See instructions for ironing collars on 
Dolph's Combined Machine or other Collar and Cuff Ironers.) 

After ironing, the turn-down collars are put through the 
seam dampener which dampens the fold line of the collar above 
the seam and prevents the goods breaking when turned down. 

Collars may be molded or shaped by hand with an iron 
or by Collar Folding Machine. 




Dolph's Cylinder Stareher. 



DIRECTIONS FOR OPERATING THE DOLPH CYLINDER STARCHER. 

Boil the sap out of the wood thoroughly, first with Chlo- 
ride of lime, then strong soap and lastly a lot of refuse starch 
and clean out well. 

Boil a few buckets of starch, about the consistency of 
syrup, and pour into the machine. Put in fifteen to twenty-five 
doz. Collars and Cuffs and start machine. The steam turned on 
v ill keep the starch hot. 

The steam pipe coming to the machine should have a 
drip cock to let condensed water out of the pipe before turn- 
ing steam into starcher. 

After work has been in the machine fifteen or twenty 
minutes, take it out on to the table attached to the machine, and 
put in another lot of work and start the machine again. Re- 
plenish with fresh starch from time to time. Straighten out the 
collars starched, one by one, pressing out only the surplus of 
starch, and placing them in a pile ; in which state they can be 
taken to another table to wipe off. Don't wipe too much. 

Dry, dampen and iron as usual. 

By keeping the lid to the machine closed, you need to 
clean out the starcher but once a week and can use it up to 
about one bucketful, which is all you need lose in the entire 
week. 

The less water left in the goods from the wringer, the stiffer 
the goods will be, but if the starch is too thick, work is apt to 
be too stiff 



i I 




Dolph's Combined Ironer. 

DIRECTIONS FOE OPERATING SAME. 

FOR USE AS A BOSOM IRONER, 
Machine need not be stopped op gas put out 

With the ironing table and return shute removed and 
the platform elevated to throw upper roll out of gear, see that 
the counter balance weight is attached to the reciprocating arm, 
and your machine is ready for use as a Bosom Ironer. 



12 



The operation then is the same as with the No. 2 Bosom 
Ironer, which is as follows : Start the machine and light it, 
so adjusting the gas and air that a blue blaze is obtained. The 
machine will come to you clothed: and you can learn from it 
how to reclothe, when necessary. Place a towel or other cover- 
ing over the bosom board while cleaning the roll. The roll 
should be thoroughly cleaned and waxed with beeswax which 
will burn off; wiping off the roll well with a dry cloth. When 
hot, the roll will assume a yellowish brown or bluish tint. 

In preparing the goods for this machine, observe the 
following special instructions : In starching, the wrinkles should 
be pulled and rubbed out as much as possible and the bosom 
dried straight. Then dampen as follows : Dip and wring out 
the front skirt only of the shirt in clear water, and spread this 
damp part over the bosom and also covering the neck band ; 
this will fold the shirt in the middle at the waist ; then fold 
in the cuffs, spreading* them on the shirt as it lies, near the cen- 
ter. You can then sprinkle the sleeves a little, and fold them 
and the sides of the shirt in over the cuffs, which will cause the shirt 
to be folded about the size of the bosom. Then take them 
by the neck and roll up tight, or place them in a pile with- 
out rolling up, but place a weight on them. In an hour or 
so (over night is better) they will be in condition to iron. 

If the starch is smeared on the bosom, it will show 
in blotches; or if too damp or damp in spots, such spots will 
have a dark greasy shine. It is necessary therefore to dampen 
evenly; consequentlv sprinkling the bosom will not do, but ob- 
serve the rule given above. 

The shirts being properly dampened, first iron the cuffs by 
hand and then the neck band, hard and dry, using the ordinary 
polishing iron. Slip the shirt over the bosom board on the ma- 
chine, turn the neck-band down it to the depressed space provi- 
ded; clamp both skirts of the shirt in the windlass and stretch 

r 3 



the bosom on, being careful not to pull the neck band out 
and down unto the bosom board. To avoid this, pull more 
on the back skirt of the shirt in stretching ; then with the 
foot on the treadle, take hold of handle and guide the bosom 
against the roll, bearing your whole weight on treadle but 
removing your weight gently before the bosom has traveled 
its full length. Repeat this once or twice and then raise the 
plaits before they are dried down too hard ; after which run 
once more through, and the bosom is ready for polishing. Pass 
a slightly dampened sponge or rag quickly over the surface of 
the bosom and then, guiding it through the machine without 
pressure, bring pressure to bear on the bottom of bosom and 
draw it backward through, against the roll, thus giving a fric- 
tion and consequently a gloss to the bosom. Raise the plaits, 
punch the eyelets and the bosom is done. 

A narrow table is sent with each machine, fastened to 
two legs and to the wall at one end only, leaving most of the 
table to overhang. The shirt is slipped on over this table and 
may be finished up without rumpling. 

FOR USE AS A COLLAR AND CUFF IRONKR. 
You need not stop the machine or put out gas. 

Unhook the counter balance weight, drop the platform so as 
to bring the upper roll in gear, put on table and shute, put stripping 
board on the edge of shute with bevel edge resting against the roll 
and the machine is ready for use as a Collar and Cuff Ironer. 

Feed the collars through the rolls, and they will return to 
the table by means of the shute. Should the collars stick to the 
roll, it is because the roll is not sufficiently heated, or the collars 
are too damp, or possibly smeared with starch. 



H 



BLEACHING WITH CHLORIDE OF LIME. 
Five pounds of Chloride of Lime boiled well in five gal- 
lons of water. Settle and pour off the clear liquid only. Use a 
pint of this to, say, twenty gallons of water and allow the goods 
to stay in it fifteen minutes. Take out and rinse thoroughly in 
several waters, then put goods into the sour. After pouring off 
the clear liquid, a weaker solution may be had from the settlings 
by boiling again and pouring off as before. 

SOUR BATH FOR CUFFS AND COLLARS. 

Usually Sulphuric acid is used, but white wine vinegar or 
acetic acid will do. Make bath just strong enough to taste a little 
sour, and leave goods in from fifteen to thirty minutes, rinsing 
thoroughly afterwards. 



Laundrymen will find many practical suggestions and valu- 
able recipes in a work entitled: "The Laundry," published by C. 
Dowst, 177 La Salle Street, Chicago, Ills. 




'5 




Dolph Centrifugal Wringer. 



OFFICE OF WILD'S STEAM LAUNDRY. 

Detroit, February 20, 1S84. 
The A. M. Dolph Company, Cincinnati, O. 

Gentlemen : — I have one of your 20-inch Centrifugal 
Wringers, and am well pleased with it. We are not very particu- 
lar about balancing it. It runs very easy, and requires but little 
power. I have a five-horse power engine which runs two Dolph 
washers, one starcher, one rubber roll wringer, collar and cufF ma- 
chine, shirt machine and the Centrifugal Wringer, and there is no 
slacking of speed in starting. 

Yours very truly, 



W. L. WILD. 



[Mr. Wild has a very complete outfit furnished by us.] 

l6 



Ufte J\. M. ©ofpf> @o. 

Keep in Stock a Large Line of 

UTENSILS AND SUPPLIES, 

IPoir, the I_i^a.xj3sriDi^"Z".. 



TRUCKS, with draining shelf and cock, SAD 

IRONS, with heavy wrought handles, 

POLISHING IRONS, smooth and 

perforated, IRON STANDS, 

IRON HOLDERS, &c. 

ANILINE BLUE, 

INDELIBLE INK 

SOAP, STARCH, &e. 

EXCELSIOR SOAP CHIPS, 

Manufactured for us. according to our special receipt, of tie 
very REST and PUREST materials, and warranted to DO THE 
WORK without the least injury to the fabric. Many Laundries, 
where the soap has been used for years, have tried other soaps at 
different times, but INVARIABLY FALL BACK UPON THE 
EXCELSIOR SOAP CHIPS, as the most reliable. 



— W oj*><3^^=>o<. 



To prepare for machine use, boil in water, one pound of 

Soap Chips to the gallon. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 149 877 



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Laundry Machinery 



Factory adquarters, 

S. W, Cor. Ninth Stree 'enu 



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